Biosecurity at equine events

Transcription

1 Biosecurity at equine events Presented by: Dr Sandy Adsett BSc, BVMS Veterinary Officer, Biosecurity Queensland Janet Vallier District Inspector Biosecurity Queensland Written by: Fiona Thompson Industry Liaison Officer, Biosecurity Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

2 What is biosecurity? Assessing bank account details Biro security A set of preventative measures designed to reduce the risk of introduction and transmission of infectious diseases and pests in crops and livestock.

3 What is biosecurity? Biosecurity can encompass a range of activities: allow only healthy animals promote good hygiene (animal, stable, human) vaccinate/test for certain diseases restrict commingling isolate sick animals. Biosecurity planning is like an insurance policy. SECURE YOUR EVENT = SECURE YOUR FUTURE

4 Aim of biosecurity The aim of biosecurity measures are to: prevent the introduction of disease and pests prevent the spread of disease and pests minimise the effect and spread of disease and pests. Implementation of a biosecurity plan will: minimse or prevent the introduction of disease and pests minimise or prevent the spread of disease and pests minimise the effect of disease and pests

5 Why is biosecurity important for you? Anyone running an event involving animals has an obligation to protect the health of those animals and competitors/exhibitors at the event where possible.

6 Everyone has biosecurity obligations Competitors/exhibitors and spectators also have obligations. Everyone is responsible for their actions.

7 Questions

8 Biosecurity risks Events pose unique risks for disease & pest introduction and spread: horses from different properties stress for horses (travelling, unfamiliar environment, competition) stabling in close proximity human interaction Those creating the risk need to mitigate the risks wherever possible Risk creator => Risk mitigation

9 Biosecurity risks contin.. Event biosecurity planning can mitigate risks by: Identification of the hazards (e.g. disease agents) Assessment of biosecurity risks Risk mitigation identification and documentation Risk = likelihood X consequences Biosecurity measures should be: Practical Effective Cost effective Capability & capacity Sustainable

10 Infectious disease model Host Age Immune status Hygiene Exposure Host Agent Agent Virus, bacteria, parasite Presence alone does not cause disease Dose Pathogenicity Environment Environment Climate Vectors (e.g. insects) Crowding Hygiene

11 Disease transmission Greatest risk is direct horse-to-horse contact Body fluids, excretions Fomites (tack, feed/water containers, vehicles, floats, bedding) Other animals (dogs, bats, rodents, birds) People Vectors (mosquitoes, flies, ticks) Air Feed & water (mould, mycotoxins, aflatoxins, nitrate/nitrite)

12 Notifiable diseases Be aware of notifiable diseases. If you suspect a notifiable disease you have a legal obligation to contact: a veterinarian DAFF Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline (24 hour) Includes exotic disease that need to be eradicated if detected plus diseases present in Queensland which are of veterinary or public health significance.

13 Notifiable diseases contin It may be a notifiable disease if there is: a lot of dead animals rapid spread of disease unusual nervous signs profuse bloody diarrhoea respiratory disease or persistent coughing deep smelly fly struck wounds any link to another country

14 Questions

15 Biosecurity planning Plans need to be venue specific and can vary with: site design (have a venue map) management climate event type.

16 Biosecurity planning contin Biosecurity plans need to: identify potential biosecurity risks assist the prevention of disease/pest introduction encourage document management practices allow for traceability should an incident arise. Biosecurity plans should include information such as: biosecurity rules identify a person in charge for biosecurity promote good biosecurity (signs, hand hygiene) ensure a vet is on grounds or on call

17 What can we do to reduce the risk from: Horses Fomites (tack, containers, vehicles, floats, bedding) Other animals People Vectors Air Feed and water

18 Put in place: Event/venue rules Person in charge Record keeping Legal documentation Signage Hand hygiene PPE

19 Questions

20 Contingency planning Even with the best biosecurity planning things can go wrong => have a contingency plan Complete elimination of all disease risk at an equine event is impossible Know what to do if a emergency disease incident occurs

21 Contingency plan contin Ensure there is one person in charge Isolate the suspect horse (from humans and other animal Contact your nominated veterinarian and follow their advice Consolidate event records should they be required.

22 Suspect Hendra virus case at an event Implement your contingency plan Biosecurity Queensland becomes involved in Hendra virus incidents once there is laboratory confirmation. Biosecurity Queensland is also available for advice on animal biosecurity and welfare.

23 Confirmed Hendra virus infection Once Hendra virus infection is confirmed, Biosecurity Queensland will: Quarantine event grounds Expect event organisers can provide names and contact details of people with horses on grounds for the previous days Undertake tracing to identify where the horse may have become infected and other animals that may have been exposed Conduct exposure assessments of all susceptible animals (horses, dogs, cats) on the grounds.

24 Exposure assessments From the exposure assessments animals will be categorised as: 1. Low interest animals 2. Suspect response animals 3. Close contact animals.

25 1. Low interest animals Assessed as no/negligible likelihood of animal being exposed to Hendra virus from the infected horse or it s environment Able to leave quarantined grounds under permit from Biosecurity Inspector On going health monitoring by horse owner/ manager notify if status changes National agreement has determined horses with current Hendra virus vaccination status to be assigned a low interest animal status

26 2. Suspect response animals A susceptible animal showing any sign of illness consistent with current knowledge of Hendra virus Animals to be isolated (from humans and other animals) Samples to be collected for Hendra virus testing asap Applies to animals at the event site and animals that may have moved from the event site.

27 3. Close contact animals Assessed as likely or known to have been in close contact with a potential source of Hendra virus from an infected animal Close contact horses are managed differently depending on whether they are vaccinated or not (risk assessment based).

28 Hendra virus vaccinated close contact horses National agreement has determined horses with current Hendra virus vaccination status to be assigned a low interest animal status In general, vaccinated horses will not require government regulated management such as health monitoring, laboratory testing or movement restrictions Able to leave quarantined grounds/properties under permit from Biosecurity Inspector.

29 Unvaccinated close contact horses Management of these horses as per Biosecurity Queensland Management of Hendra virus policy Typically quarantined for three rounds of testing (0, 12, 20 days).

30 Take home messages Develop, implement and communicate the plan The plan is more likely to be successful if measures are: practical cost effective sustainable Biosecurity plans are not just for Hendra virus Measures put in place can guard against various diseases and pests. Review your plans regularly

31 Questions